Arsenal kicked off their 2025 Asia pre-season tour with a narrow 1-0 victory over AC Milan at Singapore National Stadium on July 23. England star Bukayo Saka netted the only goal in the 53rd minute, capitalizing on a Jakub Kiwior cross. But despite the high-profile presence of the two European giants and the Premier League, only 22,813 fans were present in the National Stadium stands. Shockingly, this is less than half the stadium’s 55,000 capacity. Meanwhile, the sparse crowd created a subdued atmosphere for what was billed as the marquee event of the Singapore Festival of Football 2025. Here’s possible reasons why Singaporeans didn’t attend the Arsenal vs. AC Milan match in Singapore.
The underwhelming turnout has sparked discussion about why local fans didn’t flock to see such renowned teams. In fact, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta expressed disappointed about the poor attendance in a press meeting. Meanwhile, industry observers, the media, and Singaporeans themselves pointed to several factors for the empty seats at AC Milan vs Arsenal.
Why did fans not attend Arsenal vs AC Milan Singapore?
Ticket prices for major European club friendly football matches in Singapore have risen dramatically in recent years—so people have speculated that this is the main reason attendance was out of reach for local supporters. Additionally, the football match fell on a Wednesday night, clashing with work and school schedules, while sweltering and humid weather conditions discouraged some from making the commute. Plus, many fans can watch these football matches for free at home.
On social media, many local football fans voiced frustration over the low attendance at the Arsenal vs AC Milan match. They cited steep ticket prices with comments like “lower the ticket prices if you want a real crowd.” Meanwhile, other users expressed annoyance at the disconnect between organisers ambitions and the realities of local fan interests—arguing that the match felt more targeted to tourists or expats than everyday Singaporeans. One comment even stated to “make matches more accessible to real fans, not just VIPs and corporates.”
Although, Singaporeans expressed online that the stadium may be full for the Arsenal vs Newcastle United match on Sunday (July 27, 2025).
Furthermore, many Singaporeans also remain primarily loyal to their local clubs or the Singapore National Team. Therefore, global club friendlies don’t appeal to local supporters as much as die-hard overseas fans.
Learn more of what to expect while Arsenal is in Singapore here.
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